Back to work on the Valiant

[ka4koe]

Had a nice chat with Don, K4KYV on 80m this evening on the Valiant. Good grid current, plate, osc, buffer. Dern thing won't produce grid on 40 and up. Did some reading here on the forum. No drive to the finals = no grid current.

I am seeing signal on the panadapter at the correct frequency, so it would appear the multiplier tube/VFO is working fine.

I haven't touched this rig since my lightning event on July 31, so not fresh on where I left it when I had to shift gears/priorities.

Lesson: One must keep a repair/mod log other than a marked up schematic.

This particularly radio has been a problem child. I am sure there are worse. It has the hallmarks of being rode hard and put up wet. But its mine and I HAVE learned an awful lot fixing and refixing this thing.

Time to break out the toothbrush and Deoxit.

[Pete, WA2CWA]

Time to break out the toothbrush and Deoxit.

Probably a VTVM and a scope would be better suited tools.

[K4RT]

As a boatanchor newbie, I have found it very helpful to keep a log or notes of work on more complex circuits - e.g. transmitters - so I can remember where I left off after putting the work aside.  The small hardbound or softbound notebooks are available for a buck or two at the discount stores. I keep a notebook for each older rig I have worked on, noting measurements taken, problems found, leads disconnected, parts replaced, advice from experienced hams, manual pages, literature reviewed, questions about things I don't understand, whatever.  The notes allow me to recall what I was doing before I set the work aside because of other priorities.  After the work is done, I'll hold onto the notes for future reference. 

Also, I have found it very helpful to label wiring, write on components the alpha-numeric part numbers that correspond with the schematic, and snap photos so I can remember how things were connected before I took it apart.

[Dave K6XYZ]

Had a nice chat with Don, K4KYV on 80m this evening on the Valiant. Good grid current, plate, osc, buffer. Dern thing won't produce grid on 40 and up. Did some reading here on the forum. No drive to the finals = no grid current.

I am seeing signal on the panadapter at the correct frequency, so it would appear the multiplier tube/VFO is working fine.

I haven't touched this rig since my lightning event on July 31, so not fresh on where I left it when I had to shift gears/priorities.

Lesson: One must keep a repair/mod log other than a marked up schematic.

This particularly radio has been a problem child. I am sure there are worse. It has the hallmarks of being rode hard and put up wet. But its mine and I HAVE learned an awful lot fixing and refixing this thing.

Time to break out the toothbrush and Deoxit.

Hi Philip.....have you read my thread on no grid drive on my Valiant?
You can jump to the end to get the final fix.
The rig never worked at all on 40>11mtrs.
I have owned it since 89' and I estimate it was built in 59'....whoever built it did a really good job....except just one thing!!

Look here....
http://amfone.net/Amforum/index.php?topic=23349.0

Dave

[ka4koe]

Yes I did. Funny thing is that the rig didn't start out this way. So I have changed something and need to backtrack.

Tnx. We'll get it eventually. If anything, I can work on 80m.

Philip

[WD5JKO]

Phillip,

   I'm pretty sure every Valiant repair iteration you went through is well documented here on AM Fone. The thread subject titles though can often be cryptic making searches a bit of a challenge.

   I just worked a guy on 10m with a Valiant. For him it was in and out of the case 15 times, and now it works great. So I think your almost there. 

Jim
Wd5JKO

[ka4koe]

FIFTEEN TIMES?

I think I'm about to half of this guy's score.

Philip

[w4bfs]

just think of it as time on the weight machines at the gym

[ka4koe]

Looks like the bottom end of L5's winding is hanging in space.....soldered connection appears to have come loose.

[KL7OF]

Never put that Valiant back in the case!

[ka4koe]

Working all bands now. Not getting a lot of grid on the upper bands, but after some fiddling, 10m gets about 80 watts. Aux loading at 10 and fine at 6.

Likely need to peak those two inductors again on 40m for max grid.

Philip